Arisaka type 99
Is the series stamp always placed to the left of the serial number?
I have a type 99 from the Nagoya arsenal that I think may be a 0 series...
I have a type 99 from the Nagoya arsenal that I think may be a 0 series...
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Its late war from kokura arsensal series 25 63xxx , just trying to figure out how the rifles were made , if there worth shooting, anything like that 0 -
The Arisaka is a very strong action, far more so than is needed for the cartridge. Have a gunsmith look it over for any safety issues, if he blesses it then enjoy shooting it. Norma still makes the ammo, I don't know about other sources. 0 -
Some of the late war are rather crude with metallurgy (sp) could be suspect. The mid and early war ones are tough as nails and strong actions as stated above. The late war (imo) should be left as such as a relic and collectable and not used...your call. 0 -
I have a 6.5. Kinda ugly, no mum but mostly orgional. Shoots ok. My Uncle who brought it back said it would clip weeds from the muzzle to as far as he could see. Ran helmuts of ammo through it that it would get so hot he couldn't hold the wood and still it shot good. My dad had a 6.5 that you could drop .277 bullets threw, bore looked nice but way outa spec. 0 -
yeah from what i read it was the last series made at kokura 1-92000 were made. i just dodnt know if that arsenal made there last ditchs any better then the other arsenals, it was 1 of the top three arsenals at the time. its been hard trying to find a blacksmith who has the knowledge of it 0 -
I'm a former Arisaka collector. At one time had about 25 of them of all types, arsenals, etc. And I agree with MM8nambu.
Here's the skinny. 1st: By late in the war, the allies had control of the air and seas. Therefore Japan had much trouble getting war material resources in. 2nd: All their arsenals had been bombed and they had resorted to "Cottage industry". Which means manufacturing in makeshift barns/garages etc in areas not likely to be bombed.
3rd: By the mis-use of their troops in suicide charges etc. Japan had wasted and was low on man power. They had literally drafted nearly all able bodied males. Including their experienced hands from the arsenals.
Therefore by late war, Japanese arms were being manufactured out of substandard materials, on worn tooling in locations not generally suited for the tasks. By inexperienced labor. Often children.
If one looks at the reverse evolution of the T-99, it is plain to see. What started as a robust, well made rifle early in the war, degenerated into one that was suspect as to being safe to fire.
Fred Honeycutt, the author of "Military Rifles of Japan". Considered by most as THE AUTHORITY on WW-2 Japanese arms, stated himself that he considers Last Ditch T-99's as too risky to fire. He came to that conclusion after one he had owned many years and fired many times, blew up. Many people do fire them. And I have fired them. But I don't anymore. IMO it's just not worth the risk.0 -
ok thanks, maybe ill just buy and early t99 to have some fun with 0 -
quote:Originally posted by brunette63
ok thanks, maybe ill just buy and early t99 to have some fun with
To Arisaka collectors, the Last Ditch Models are just as valuable as the early/mid war models. (Provided in original condition). If you want a shooter, you should be able to get a decent trade at a gunshow.0 -
Well defined as usual, Mr.Strat, and dead on the money.. 0 -
The thing is, much like firing low number springfields, you never know unless it goes boom. Most are ok... but you never know. I'd certainly feel safer firing one than, say, a 6.5 Vetterli conversion or an 8mm Gras conversion, and if it were mine I'd probably test fire it from a tire or something, just to know, but that's up to you.
Even so, as I understand it, the big issue wasn't that the gun was too brittle or anything like that, but rather that heat treatment was suspect. As in, soft. As in, made from substandard steel and/or not treated well. Which means, while it probably won't blow up on the first shot, over time the receiver would stretch and could eventually fail.
How about some pics? I like old Arisakas.
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theres an earlier ariska forum i started if you scroll down, it has the pics of the gun 0
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